A former Gambian minister in the erstwhile government of Yahya Jammeh who refused to incriminate himself at the truth commission was Monday charged with murder.
Yankuba Touray, a former member of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC), which toppled the Jawara government in 1994 and ruled the Gambia until 1997, is accused of killing the country’s former Finance Minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay in 1995.
Prosecutors said sometime in June 1995 in Kololi village, West Coast Region, Touray with malice aforethought hit Mr Ceesay with a pestle like object and other dangerous objects, thereby causing his death.
Touray will be back in court next week to take a plea on the charges. He is meanwhile remanded at Mile Two Central Prisons.
Burnt out
The remains of the former Finance minister were discovered in a burnt out vehicle. Investigations by police at the time attributed it to a freak vehicular accident and ruled out any foul play.
Investigators said they believe the Sedan Benz he was driving had hit a little bridge on a country road behind Jambur village at speed before catching fire and killing him.
However former soldiers who have appeared at the truth commission have alleged that Ceesay was invited to Touray’s residence in Kololi where he was set upon and killed by some other council members including Touray.
Immunity
The decision to charge Touray follows his refusal to testify at the truth commission investigating alleged human rights violations committed during his time in government.
Touray claimed that he had immunity as guaranteed in the 1997 constitution but the Attorney General and minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou said no such immunity exist and vowed to come down heavily on him.
In an interview with the state-owned Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), Tambadou who was in court with a team of senior state prosecutors, described Touray’s actions and conduct as contemptuous and disrespectful and said his ministry will vehemently prosecute him for contempt of the truth commission and other crimes that he was implicated.
“We will set an example in Mr Touray so that those who are even imagining that they could do something like this and get away with it will think twice about it,” he said.
Well done Baa Tambedou. Those who committed heinous crimes against our people should have no hiding place. Yankuba’s two finger salute to the nation is a wake up call to this government that those criminals who committed ungodly acts against our people haven’t repented or regretted their callous acts. Let Yankuba rot in the mosquito infested shit hole and stared at the ceiling and reflect on what he had done. Reflect on the face of Ousman Korro Ceesay before his last breath. May the mosquitoes show your flesh mercy.
The AG must thread gently here.
First, Yankuba Touray must be accorded all his rights, to include but not limited to, his right to effective counsel, his right to bail hearings and ALL other rights guaranteed an accused person in The Gambia.
Second, the State must carefully prepare its case and do necessary research into ALL witnesses and collect any evidence left.
Third, this case requires significant sway of public opinion against Mr Touray. The Ceesay family must continue to tell their story and make sure the public remains firmly on their side. It is clear that he was murdered by Yankuba Touray and other thugs already named, but proving guilt is a different story, requiring a keen legal mind. Experienced and intelligent Officers of the court must represent the state. A team must be appointed and dedicated to this case.
How will I do it:
I will fight his bail with every trick in the book. My goal will be to keep him in Mile 2 for as long as possible. Say 2-3 years. By the time he finally goes in front of a judge, he will be wishing for a natural death. Of course he will also be insolvent at this point. His lawyers will have stolen all his money and property.
One way or the other my goal will be to
1. Jail him physically or
2. Jail in financially and emotionally
Either way he pays for OKC.
The sick judiciary system. He was subpoenaed by the TRRC but later charged by the Attorney General for Koro Ceesay’s death, a completely different case. What was he arrested for at the TRRC?
Now the TRRC has raised its case in the high court before Justice Cisse for contempt of authority.
Who is unlawfully chasing and indicting Yankuba? The TRRC or Tambedou with vested interests from the Koro Ceesay circles? Who is interested in seeing him behind bars, lawfully or unlawfully?
Don’t accuse President Jammeh of anything wrong which you cannot desist from doing. That’s disappointing, telling LIES to the sovereign people of your country and really deceitful.
I am convinced that Tambedou will one day answer to his authoritative manners of dispensing/interpreting the law.